Inside the New York Yankees clubhouse with MLB.com beat writer Bryan Hoch.

Yankees still mulling roster decisions

In his post-workout news conference on Tuesday, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that the club is still hammering out the final roster spots in anticipation of the American League Division Series, which opens on Wednesday at 6:07 p.m. ET against either the Tigers or Twins.

Here’s three guys who did not make the cut, though — Brian Bruney, Sergio Mitre and Ramiro Pena have been asked to travel to Tampa and continue and playing at the Yankees’ complex there.

“There’s still some decisions that we have to make,” Girardi said. “We have not made all of them. Part of it is that we don’t know who we’re playing.”

Girardi said that the Yankees have not decided if they are taking two left-handed pitchers (read, Phil Coke and Damaso Marte), and left open the possibility that they could carry 11 pitchers as well. The Yankees are still toying with the idea of taking two pinch-runners, Brett Gardner and Freddy Guzman, but that will decide on the 10 or 11 pitchers. There is also no decision on if they will carry Francisco Cervelli as a third catcher.

“As far as we’re concerned, there’s probably 23 guys that are fairly secure,” Girardi said. “And we’re trying to make the last couple of spots. That’s what we have to decide.”

Bruney was disappointed with the decision.

“It’s a surprise,” he said. “I thought I did enough.”

Here’s the best guess at what the roster looks like right now. You’d think if the Twins win, they’d take Marte to deal with the left-handed hitters. If the Tigers win, Guzman makes it. I tend to think they’ll take three catchers with Jose Molina catching A.J. Burnett in Game 2. I don’t see Chad Gaudin making it with Joba Chamberlain on the staff. Pitchers (9 definites): CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte, Joba Chamberlain, Mariano Rivera, Alfredo Aceves, Phil Coke, Dave Robertson, Phil Hughes.Catchers (2 definites): Jorge Posada, Jose Molina

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